Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also called co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without fear of SIDS. However, they are only suitable for use up to 6 months when your baby is required to move into a cot or moses basket.
MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model features an adjustable bassinet that you can use in the home and a manual rocking function. It was also easy to put together and came with its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. They can also be converted into toddler beds, while the cot beds are typically used up to three years older. There are two sizes of wooden cots - big and standard that can be transformed into a toddler bed or a cot. If you want your child (or children) to be comfortable sleeping in the larger cot, it's an excellent option to select the larger size.
Jasmine is an MFM mother who tested the product at home, said she liked that it was slightly larger than a Moses' basket but still not too big for the room of her baby. She says it's easy to carry her child in and out for feeding or soothing and that the quality is excellent, compared with many she's encountered that feel cheap and flimsy.
Emily, another home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi lora that is a lift-off, mobile bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an incline of reflux as well as a machine washable liner that is breathable. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the Best Cot or Moses Basket category. Unlike some International or European cot brands Lora is a cot that Lora can fit South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It does require a special bedding set (60x120cm). Here is the ideal mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot choose one that can be raised to a height that's comfortable for feeding your the baby. It must also be able to be lowered to the ground so that you can pull your baby up towards you during night feedings or for soothing. This is especially useful if you're recovering from a C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm, while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm and the Knuma Hutch up to 70cm.
It is also important to consider the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mums find it easier to lift their children out of the standard Moses baskets at the lowest height, other mums prefer an elevated base to give them more stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a popular choice with one of our mum testers stating that it comes with a simple collapsible side that you can use at the push of one button.
Keep in mind that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should only be used until your baby can hold their head without assistance typically around 6 months. This is due to the risk of suffocation. Be aware that when your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot you will have to take the sides off when they are able to do so. This will prevent them from climbing out or falling out of the bed.
Design
There are a variety of styles of cribs for bedside use that range from basic to extravagant. Some of the most expensive options come with features such as an inbuilt light, a soothing center that plays music and sounds and has two levels to help soothe your baby back to sleep, or an adjustable footrest that allows you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models that can be transformed into a cot bed or toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to move to their own bigger bed.
For instance the Tutti Bambini CoZee Air which was awarded Bronze in the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket category, has a swivelling base that allows you to pick up your newborn and transfer them from one side of the crib to the other without having to get up. This is great for mothers who are recovering from Caesareans or who have to remain in bed for long periods of time. Jasmine, a MFM mum who tested this product at home, stated that it was easy to use and made it easier to reach her baby - especially after having a c-section.
similar site is another option. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards to be the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib. It has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and a rocking feature. It's a bit bigger than some of the other cribs that we've tried, but it folds flat into its travel bag, so it is relatively compact when not in use.
MFM mom home tester Leya also liked the functionality of this bedside crib, describing how it was designed with babies and parents in mind. 'It has an excellent design that is extremely simple to operate and is extremely durable. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant since it allowed you to move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to facilitate access, especially for new mums recovering from C-sections.
Safety
The main safety feature of a large bedside cot is that it can be easily raised or lowered to enable parents to reach their baby when they require to feed them, soothe them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are still recovering from a C section. Look for a design that lets you lower one side with the press of a button so you can effortlessly lift your baby without getting out of bed. This is especially important as your baby grows older and more mobile. Beware of items that could increase the chance of injury or suffocation such as pillowcases and duvets which could cause your baby to become overheated.
The NPR of the CPSC's NPR included 24 incidents that were attributed to problems with the product that included gaps between the bedside sleeper and the adult bed (12 incidents); fabric-sided enclosed openings (11 incidents) and consumer misassembly or missing parts (6 incidents); and miscellaneous other product-related issues (9 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC examined the possibility of adding more requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance the products would need to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at the very least, the maximum height requirements for the lowered rail. The CPSC found, however that these requirements were not efficient or effective in reducing the amount of instances where infants are trapped by the bedside rail as well as an adult bed.
The majority of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into different modes like bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside beds to allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirement for bassinets using an attachment that can be connected permanently or disconnected when the item is not being used as a bassinet.
The CPSC is reviewing these comments and others received in response to the NPR regarding bedside sleeping. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be released in November 2021.